Mark Emmert to Visit LSU

Emmert, president of the NCAA, to speak to students on September 29

The LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College will host a lecture by Mark Emmert, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, on Thursday, September 29, at 7 p.m., in the Business Education Complex auditorium. The lecture, “Leadership in Challenging Times,” is free and open to the public.

Emmert, who served as chancellor of LSU from 1999 to 2004, is giving the lecture as the inaugural Brian and Barbara Haymon Distinguished Visiting Professor. Established in 2007 by Brian and Barbara Haymon, the professorship brings distinguished visitors from outside Baton Rouge to LSU to share their unique experiences and perspective on leadership with LSU students.

“Mark Emmert has demonstrated outstanding leadership in so many areas – it’s going to be a real opportunity for our college’s students, faculty, and the LSU community to hear about his experiences,” said Ogden Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle.

“During his time as LSU Chancellor, Mark Emmert established the vision of the Honors College: to recruit and prepare the next generation of leaders, and to serve as a beacon of excellence for higher education in Louisiana,” Brian Haymon said. “Barbara and I are honored that Mark is returning to LSU, to see the progress that has been made, and to teach and inspire our students.”

As president of the NCAA, Emmert has championed greater support for student-athlete wellness and academic success, prioritizing academics, health, well-being and fairness as the NCAA’s top initiatives.

Emmert recently oversaw the process of relocating NCAA championship tournament games scheduled to take place in North Carolina in response to a law curbing anti-discrimination protection for the LGBTQ community. He has called for equal treatment of LGBT individuals and steps to address sexual violence on college campuses.

Emmert graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in political science and has both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in public administration from Syracuse University. Before joining the NCAA in 2010, Emmert served as president of the University of Washington.

The LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College is a vibrant, diverse and prestigious community located at the heart of LSU. The Ogden Honors College provides students with a curriculum of rigorous seminar classes, as well as opportunities for undergraduate research, culminating in the Honors Thesis. Its focus on community service, study abroad, internships and independent research helps today’s high-achieving students become tomorrow’s leaders.